Academy Roundup - October 4

Both Houston Dynamo Academy squads were in action at the Carl Lewis Track & Field Complex Sunday afternoon against Texans SC, with the U-16s falling 2-0 and the U-18s coming from behind to earn a 1-1 draw.

In an evenly matched game between the Dynamo U-18s (0-2-1) and a Texans squad with several former Dynamo players, Houston managed to pull out a draw on a late goal by forward Chance Bergen. Early in the match, neither team was able to muster much offense. Texans SC opened their scoring account in the 61st minute when Christian Duarte slotted the ball past a diving Graham Wheeler (Katy Taylor) to put the Texans up 1-0. Houston continued to press over the final 20 minutes and finally broke through in the 88th minute when Bergen received a cross from Martin Castillo (Pasadena Sam Rayburn), controlled it at the edge of the six-yard box, and fired it past the Texans goalkeeper.

In the second match of the day, the U-16s (1-2) dominated the run of play but could not find the back of the net against a stout Texans defense. The Texans got on the scoreboard in the 37th minute when a shot hit off a Dynamo defender and deflected away from goalkeeper Juan Navarrete (Katy Cinco Ranch). Although the Dynamo were the more dominant team on Sunday, recording eight shots and controlling possession for most of the match, they had difficulty scoring against TSC. In the 76th minute, however, Navarrete misplayed Christian Vazquez's corner kick, and Isaiah Nji was there to finish the loose ball to give the Texans a 2-0 lead they would not relinquish.

Both Dynamo Academy teams return to action next week with a trip to Frisco to take on FC Dallas. The U-18s kick off at 2 p.m., with the U-16s to follow at 4 p.m.